Hi folks,
I know many people who are wondering as ask me wheather to get a gas/electric big/small r/c helicopter for their first heli. And I am sure that there are many people who just don't know who to ask.

To start, you must decide if you really want to fly helis. Helicopter are extremely hard to master, and take a lot of time to master them (and $ too). As for which heli to start out with, i would recomend using a simulater for r/c things. There is FMS, but I prefer Realflight G2 for a couple of bucks, because it comes with the whole controler. Train on the simulater for many hours before yuou think of flying a real r/c heli. Trust me, it will save you a lot of money, and frustration.

As for which type of heli to get ( micro, mid full gas electric) I would probobly get a collective pitch micro electric heli, like the new Shogun heli to learn on. Also, get a computerised tx, shuch as the Jr XP6102 so you can adjust the collective easyer, and have more mixing functions to play with, which make flying a whole lot easyer.

As for gas, I would recomend them only to people who have acess to an instructor, or have flow micro fp helis, such as the Piccolo and have the skill down. Unlike micro helis, gas helis are MUCH more stable. If you have a few extra bucks, i might get it. For the full size electric helis, such as the Eco, i really do not recomend them, because they are the same as gas, about, and will not have as much power for aerobatics as the gass helis will.

Here are my thought on what heli to get, and by the way, if you are getting a new heli for the first time or just upgrading, training gear will save you many parts .
fell free to post or pm me if you have any questions/comments/concers.
Reguards,

-Keith


*Disclamer: I am not trying to advertise certan companies and their products, or sugest bad thing about them, I am only giving an example of the model, radio so people can have an idea what i am talking about. I have not intention of advertising, or dissing companys, or their products. This is only to give people an idea of what i am talking about!

gcac399 gives some good advice for starting with RC helicopters.

My first heli was a Dubro Whirley Bird 505 way back in May, 1972 and I went through many beginner models before even hovering.

Simulator is a very good training tool.

I like the mid-size engine powered helicopters for starting out.

No need to get the minimum radio (as mentioned in above post) as you will soon be wanting to advance to more features and with possible resale of your first radio, might not be that much.

And don't pinch pennies in the engine department either.
Nothing so bad as a balkie/unreliable engine in a helicopter.
Until you learn autorotations at least.

See what your local heli pilots are useing, as they will be better able to help with setup and tuneing.

Good Luck to all starting out on the Model Aviation adventure.

Yes, as alvin commented, if you are woried about spending money to get a decent heli, you should just get a good heli to save money from more broken parts, like a quality engine. Trust us, you will breack parts, and spend a lot of money, unless you are naturaly a master at r/c helis.

-Keith